The following reader's email is about how domestic honeybee colonies may be managed. I did not realize that colonies can be subjected to this much manipulation. It should not surprise me though in a world where every tiny aspect of life is infiltrated and tweaked, oftentimes against the essential nature of that aspect!
I am willing to bet there are beekeepers around who still work with their colonies instead of against them. In my opinion, to manage a species there must be compassionate, wholistic interaction and teamwork between the humans involved and the specific species of wildlife being managed, not forceful, mechanical, intrusion. (But what the bleep do I know???)
Intuit
Re: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HONEYBEES?
Bee colonies used to be kept up to seven generations in one local, their communication is based on fractal geometry and the queen mothers passed on information to keep hives healthy - would be ideal if we had wisdom of seven generations within our families!
http://www.vegansociety.com/html/animals/exploitation/bees.php
Bees are manipulated worldwide to produce many products for human use: honey, beeswax, propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly and venom. They are intelligent insects with a complex communication system.
Because bees are seen flying free, they are also often considered free of the usual cruelties of the animal farming industry. However bees undergo treatments similar to those endured by other farmed animals. They go through routine examination and handling, artificial feeding regimes, drug and pesticide treatment, genetic manipulation, artificial insemination, transportation (by air, rail and road) and slaughter.
Queen for a Year or Two
Queen bees are artificially inseminated with sperm obtained from decapitated bees. Queens are systematically slaughtered every two years because over time their egg producing abilities decline so their whole hive becomes unproductive and uneconomic. In Israel they are killed and re-queened every year.
Bees Crushed
When beekeepers manipulate combs many bees are crushed and killed. Hives have smoke puffed into them to calm bees down and make them easier to handle. Special excluders or devices that violate the bees' space are attached to hives to collect bee products from bees as they enter hives. Bees are separated from their hives by being shaken vigorously or jetted out with powerful streams of air. They may have their legs and wings clipped off. Clipping the wings of queen bees prevents them from swarming (flying off!).
Swarming is the natural way for reproduction, increase and survival of the species, at least in the wild. However, beekeepers are constantly trying to prevent this natural phenomenon and will use artificial pheromones, wing clipping and cage queens to keep their colony under control.
Artificial Feed
Beekeepers feed artificial pollen substitutes and white sugar syrup to colonies, often to replace the honey that has been removed. If these practices are carried out over long periods of time they lower hive productivity and lifespan. Colonies fed on their natural food - honey and pollen - result in larger emerging bees and more vigorous bees.
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This reader's email mentions his suspicion about GM plants as well as gives a link to one of Brian's dreams and related info concerning the honeybees' plight. Brian's dream is very interesting.
Re: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HONEYBEES?
Intuit,
I've suspected the bee problems have been related to GM plants. Here's one confirmation.
http://www.briansprediction.com/dd/5100.htm
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Thanks, Readers!
Serving Freedom
and Liberty
